Great Scott! Top award for city headteacher £5M
A Plymouth headteacher has won a prestigious national award for his commitment to teaching practical life skills to his students.
Scott Simpson-Horne, headteacher at All Saints Academy Plymouth won the Head of Fish competition, part of the Fish in School Hero programme.
The competition saw school leaders from across the country taking part and and Scott’s creativity and passion for healthy eating stood out.
Scott, who is deeply committed to promoting health and wellbeing among students, eagerly took up the challenge to teach a hands-on lesson about cooking a healthier version of fish and chips.
The demonstration, which took place with a group of Year 7, 8 and 9 students showcased a variety of fish types – salmon, cod, and basa – alongside oven-baked sweet potato wedges, homemade tartare sauce, and a freshly made salad. The lesson was designed to teach students not only cooking techniques but also key topics such as sustainability, shopping locally, and budgeting for healthy meals.
As part of the competition, his session included an interactive approach, allowing all students to participate in each element of the cooking process. Many students were introduced to new foods they had never tried before, and the session culminated in everyone enjoying the food that had been prepared. In the end the judges decided that All Saints was the ultimate winner but also picked two runners up. Each of the schools will now receive £100s worth of fresh fish from Wing of St Mawes, the Cornish fishmonger, which will be used in food and nutrition lessons.
The Fish in Schools Hero programme aims to give students the chance to prepare, cook, and enjoy fish before they leave school, helping them develop a lifelong appreciation for seafood.
The initiative is funded by the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust and managed by the Food Teachers Centre and ensures that food teachers across the UK have the confidence and training to introduce fish-based dishes into the curriculum.
Launched in 2020, the programme now extends throughout the UK.
Head Of Fish is a yearly initiative open to all schools nationally to encourage headteachers to teach a lesson with fish to a class of Years 7, 8 and 9s. With the headteacher acting as
THE WORLD OF JAMES HERRIOT, YORK & HARROGATE
Departing Mon 2 Jun ‘25
Step inside 23 Kirkgate in Thirsk and into the 1940s residence of James Herriot, author of the beloved All Creatures Great and Small books. We also visit the cathedral city of Ripon and the elegant spa town of Harrogate as well as historic York.
SO MUCH INCLUDED...
Return coach travel from Plymouth, Saltash
4 nights at the Corn Mill Lodge Hotel, near Leeds with dinner & breakfast
Excursions to the World of James Herriot Museum, Thirsk, Ripon, York & Harrogate
Optional excursion to Skipton & Haworth (£12pp)
▶ SAVE £30 - Quote PLY - Book by 09 May 2025
BOOST FOR FLOOD SCHEMES IN PLYMOUTH
Plymouth will benefit from four new flood schemes totalling nearly £5 million, protecting homes and businesses, boosting the local economy, and creating construction and infrastructure jobs, the Environment Agency has announced.
Following the Government commitment to invest a record £2.65 billion over two years towards the construction of new flood schemes and the repair and maintenance of existing ones, the Environment Agency has published a list of the communities across the nation to benefit from projects this year.
a role model, they hope that it will encourage more students to prepare cook and taste fish and seafood.
Scott Simpson-Horne said: “I’m passionate about helping students develop essential life skills that they can carry with them beyond school. It was also an opportunity to have a bit of fun and cook together – who wouldn’t jump at the chance of doing that?! As you know, our children are just brilliant and having the opportunity to share a ‘home-cooked’ meal with them was a real highlight.”
SCENIC SHROPSHIRE & SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY
Departing Mon 9 Jun ‘25
Take a tour on the scenic side and explore the natural beauty of Shropshire. We enjoy many exciting excursions including a journey on the Severn Valley Railway, entrance to the Blists Hill Museum, a relaxing cruise along the River Severn, and more!
SO MUCH INCLUDED...
Return coach travel from Plymouth, Saltash
4 nights at the Bromsgrove Hotel & Spa, Bromsgrove (JG3 rating) with dinner & breakfast
Heritage train journey on the Severn Valley Railway
Cruise on the River Severn with light refreshments
Excursions to Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ludlow Market & Shrewsbury
▶ SAVE £30 - Quote PLY - Book by 09 May 2025
With this investment, the construction of schemes can now be kickstarted or progress closer to completion in Plymouth. Schemes to receive funding include Arnold’s Point to be given £1.5 million in funding to construct a flood wall, over £3.1 million for projects in Lipson Vale and £250,000 for St Levan Road to protect against surface water flooding. Sutton Harbour gate will also receive £28,000 to protect against tidal flooding.
Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: “I’m delighted the Government has announced nearly £5 million of funding for four schemes to protect against tidal, surface and river flooding.
“Flooding poses a serious risk to our daily lives. One storm can wreak havoc on a person’s life and livelihood. As extreme weather events become more frequent it is essential that we not only take steps to mitigate the risks of climate change, for the sake of our homes and businesses, we must take decisive action to adapt to it as well.”
Reader travel
ISLE OF WIGHT WEEKEND
Departing Fri 13 Jun ‘25
Let us whisk you away to the Isle of Wight for a weekend to rejuvenate. Tailored for those who seek relaxation by the sea, along with a desire to explore, this break includes a visit to the historic town of Newport and an optional ‘Round the Island’ tour.
SO MUCH INCLUDED...
Return coach travel & ferry crossings from Plymouth, Saltash
3 nights at the Shanklin Beach Hotel, Shanklin (JG2+ rating) with dinner & breakfast
2 for 1 bar (6pm-9pm) on selected drinks (Shanklin Beach Hotel only)
Entertainment on some evenings (every evening at the Shanklin Beach Hotel)
Excursion to Newport
Optional Round the Island tour (£15pp)
By Coach from Plymouth, Saltash
Students putting their culinary skills to the test
Headteacher Scott Simpson-Horne pictured during one of his cooking lessons
Cub Scouts learn about healthy relationships to earn new badge supported by the NSPCC
Cub Scouts in Plymouth have become the latest youngsters to earn Healthy Relationship badges in a programme supported by the NSPCC.
Youngsters from the Cub pack at 31st Plymouth Ernesettle Scout group followed in the footsteps of children in their Squirrel and Beaver groups to complete the scheme and were presented with their badges at a ceremony last week. Every child also received a teddy bear for their efforts.
The Scout group has been working with the NSPCC’s Together for Childhood project in Plymouth to develop the badges which are the first of their kind to be handed out in the country.
Scout leaders working with Together for Childhood staff taught the children about the importance of healthy relationships through activities, crafts and games. The Cubs learned about friendships and also about online safety.
Cub leader Martin Edgecombe said: “We are thrilled to have been asked to deliver the Healthy Relationships badge to our Cubs at the 31st Plymouth Scout Group. Our focus was on developing Healthy Relationships online and learning about the potential risks that entails. As a leadership team we feel this is a very relevant topic for Cubs to learn about.
“This was delivered through a programme of discussions, quizzes, games and crafts. For the leaders and the Cubs alike to be involved in this local pilot scheme with the NSPCC was
a great experience.”
Shelley Shaw, Together for Childhood development and impact manager, said: “We are delighted that the Cubs in Ernesettle are the latest to achieve these new Healthy Relationship badges.
“It has been really encouraging to work with the Scout leaders, parents and carers to help reinforce the importance of healthy relationships and to see how engaged the children have been when taking part in the activities.”
Together for Childhood has been working in the Ernesettle area for more than five years, working with the community to prevent child sexual abuse and encourage people to speak out about abuse.
Working with 31st Plymouth Ernesettle Scout Group is just one of the ways that Together for Childhood has been working in the community. It is hoped that the Healthy Relationships badge will be rolled out across other Scout groups in Plymouth and eventually across the country.
Derriford Hospital Children’s Theatres brightened with underwater murals
Derriford Hospital has unveiled vibrant underwater-themed murals in the Children’s Theatres anaesthetic rooms and corridors, designed by local artist Ellie Johnson - better known as Mrs Murals –with vinyls by Hart Miller/ Frootful illustrations.
The initiative aims to transform the hospital environment, making it feel less clinical and more welcoming for young patients.
The newly painted corridors lead from the waiting area through to the anaesthetic rooms, featuring colourful sea creatures that children can spot and enjoy.
The hope is that these lively designs will provide a sense of comfort and distraction for children during their hospital visits.
The project has garnered significant attention on social media, with one of Mrs Murals’ videos showcasing the murals receiving over 100,000 views.
In addition to the anaesthetic rooms and corridors, Mrs Murals has also worked on an outdoor mural of Smeaton’s Tower, incorporating characters that will accompany children
Mrs Murals at work at Derriford Hospital Children’s
throughout their journey in the hospital.
The team at Derriford Hospital Children’s Theatres commented: “The change from a clinical space to a fun place for kids to be and their journey through the unit, seeing the characters and hunting out ice-creams is huge. We know from research that this kind of artwork improves experience but also gives operations better outcomes. Thankyou Mrs M!”
Mrs Murals said: “I’m so proud to help brighten this Ocean City’s hospital for children with the underwater themed artwork. By bringing a bit of colour and life to the walls, the hope is that it will help to make it feel less clinical for the children, giving them something interesting to look at as well as creatures to find!”
For more information about Mrs Murals and her work, visit www.mrsmurals.com.
Theatres
Send details of your event to info@ cornerstonevision.com and we will do our best to include them in Out and About. Unfortunately because of space limitations we are unable to publish details of regular meetings of groups and societies or similar organisations.
Super Saturdays
May 3
Head to The Box for a Saturday of celebration themed around its exhibition programme. Super Saturdays are for everyone to enjoy, with free family activities and special talks and events to help visitors to explore The Box exhibitions further. Open from 10am to 5pm.
Coffee Morning
May 3
Crownhill Methodist Church Hall from 10.30am to 12 noon supporting Guide Dogs for the Blind. Various stalls. All welcome.
Good Food & Craft Market
May 4, Jun 1
The popular Good Food & Craft Market will be taking place in Royal William Yard on the first Sunday of every month! Known for showcasing some of the region’s most talented artists and makers, the markets offer everything from tasty treats to handcrafted gifts. The monthly markets have been a staple of Royal William Yard’s event calendar for years, and have won event awards along the way.
Sing Devon
May 8
Do you enjoy singing? Do you like to meet new people? Then come along to our Welcoming New Voices free session at Plymstock School PL9 7.15pm to 9pm. The emphasis is on fun, supporting the local community and supporting each other. Lots of laughing mixed in with beautiful sounds. No audition, just come along and give it a go. Details at www. singdevon.com - or call Pete Scott on 07896 276577.
VE Day 80
May 8
Plymouth celebrates the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE) Day with a spectacular celebration on Plymouth Hoe. Starts at 10.30am with a flag-raising ceremony, coinciding with ships in Plymouth Sound, followed by a Full Parade of Standards and a Royal Navy Guard. Entertainment starts from 11am and runs until 5pm, with picnic benches, stalls, entertainment, and Commonwealth Wargraves Tours and vintage vehicles. An exciting concert will begin from 5.30pm, and the day culminates with a Sunset Guard ceremony and the lighting of the Beacon at 8.40pm, a poignant moment to reflect on the significance of VE Day.
Tamerton Foliot May Carnival
May 10
The Carnival starts with judging of the floats at the top of the village by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress. The procession sets off at 11.50am with the May Queen, May Prince and Flower Girls with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress. It travels through the village to Wadlands Meadow next to the church. The Meadow will have a wide range of attractions and various stalls. Refreshments are available in the Church Hall and also at various locations in the Meadow. This year’s theme is the Prehistoric Era with dinosaurs etc. Admission is free.
Southway’s Pre-Summer Table Top Sale
May 10
Church of the Holy Spirit, Southway from 1pm to 3pm. Free entry. Lots of goodies available, plus children’s crafts and tombola. Refreshments available. Quiet place for cuppa and a chat. For details or to book a table for £5 call Veronica on 07855 256383.
Britain’s Ocean City Running Festival
May 11
Thousands of runners will be taking part in the popular annual event with a choice of Half Marathon, 10k and 5k distances. Registration and further information can be found at www.runplymouth.co.uk
Out and About
Your guide to events in the local community and beyond
and The Bog Troll
May 17 to May 31
The lovable Pipsqueak the Dragon returns for another mischief-filled adventure – with a touch of magic poo!
The Soapbox Children’s Theatre, Devonport Park. A fun-filled show for the whole family. For tickets and details visit www.stiltskin.org.uk
History of Central Park Talk
May 17
Andrew Young will give a talk on the history of Central Park at Ford Park Cemetery at 2pm. It will be held in the Chapel at the Cemetery and will cost £6 per person and there will be an optional lunch in the Visitor Centre at 1 pm. The price for both the lunch and talk is £15. Tickets available at the cemetery office on 01752 665442 from 10am to 4pm weekdays.
Spring Fayre
May 17
St Francis Church Honicknowle are holding their Spring Fayre in the church hall 11am to 2pm. Various stalls including gifts, cards, plants, nearly new, tombola and refreshments.
Pirates Weekend
May 17 and 18
Enjoy swashbuckling two days of fun inspired by the high seas as Pirates Weekend returns, with plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy across Plymouth’s waterfront - including the Barbican, Sutton Harbour and Royal William Yard.
Flavour Fest
May 30 to Jun 1
The south west’s largest food and drink festival returns to Plymouth city centre. There will be over 80 stalls of fantastic local produce on the Piazza. Watch inspirational talks and demonstrations by top local chefs and plenty more entertainment throughout the weekend. For more information visit the Flavour Fest website at www.flavourfestsw.co.uk
Plymouth Model & Railway show
May 31
John Kitto YMCA Centre from 10am to 4pm. Numerous clubs from across the South West displaying models, railways, radio control boats, with traders selling kits, ancillaries and railway items. Tombola, cafe on site and disabled friendly. Adults £5, concessions £3, family ticket £10. Further details from ekcork@ btinternet.com
The Witches of Eastwick
June 4 to June 7
Sounds Musical Theatre Company mark their 124th year with the premiere performance of The Witches of Eastwick at Devonport Playhouse. With their show stopping musical score this talented cast will
transport you to a world of fantasy and intrigue. Tickets are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk £19 adult. Concessions £17 or call : 07395159955. Age recommendation 12+ contains adult content.
Coast
Jun 6 to Jun 22
A contemporary pop-up gallery showcasing the work of local artists with a deep connection with the coast and oceans. Taking place in the Melville Building at the Royal William Yard featuring a celebration of all things ‘coast’ with 2D and 3D artworks. For more details visit instagram@coast.artgallery
Plymstock Tribute Music Festival
Jun 6 and 7
Now in it’s fourth year, Plymstock Rugby Club presents a huge line up of the UK’s very best tribute acts across two days at their grounds in Wembury Road. As well as fantastic tribute acts including Oasis, Queen, The FOO Fighters, AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac there will be lots of street food, stalls and fairground rides. For tickets and details visit www.plymstockfestival.co.uk
Coffee Morning
June 7
Crownhill Methodist Church Hall from 10.30am to 12 noon. Various stalls. Supporting ‘Hope for the Homeless.’ All welcome.
Plymouth Summer Sessions
June 12 to June 15
With a spectacular waterfront setting and home to the landmark Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse, Plymouth Hoe will come alive with music as it welcomes fans back to TK Maxx presents Plymouth Summer Sessions in 2025. Following the overwhelming success of last year’s inaugural event,which drew thousands of fans, this year’s lineup kicks off on Thursday with legendary British band James, supported by Razorlight, Jamie Webster and Tom A Smith. Followed by the electrifying Pendulum on Friday, The Corrs and Natalie Imbruglia on the Saturday, plus the beloved Snow Patrol closing the weekend on Sunday, with further names to still be announced. Tickets from www.smmrsessions.com/ locations/plymouth
Father’s Day at Pennywell Farm
June 14 and 15
For Father’s Day weekend only Pennywell is giving all Dads a free VIP upgrade worth £17 (with a full paying adult ticket). The upgrade includes free coffee and cake, free ice cream, free animal feed and free piggy blanket. Visit www.pennywellfarm.co.uk/fathersday and enter the code VIPDAD3P at checkout online.
Plymouth Boat Fest
June 21
A festival of all things boating hosted by Plymouth Yacht Haven at Mount Batten. A free fun event for
Free parking.
Plymouth Armed Forces Day
June 28
Armed Forces Day is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to show their support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community from currently serving troops to reservists, veterans, cadets and their families. This exciting family day is packed with displays, parades, military equipment to explore, a thrilling arena programme, live music and much more. Details at www.plymoutharmedforcesday. co.uk
Ruckus 25 Music Festival
July 4 to 6
Hosted by Plymouth Albion at Bricklfields Ruckus will feature a line up of top live performances with a focus on iconic UK acts. Headline performers include The Feeling, The Specials, Elvana and Tom Meighan. Alongside the music there will be a food and beer festival highlighting the best of local produce and craft beers. For details visit www.plymouthalbion. com/ready-for-a-ruckus
St Levan Park Fun Day
July 5
The popular community event returns from 11am to 4pm with free entry for all. The Fun Day features live music and entertainment, craft, produce and food stalls as well as the Gables Dog Show. There will be a toddler soft play area as well as inflatables and Zigzag entertainer. For updates visit #StLevanFunDay
A Talk on the Remarkable Pinwill Sisters
July 23
This talk at the Plymouth Proprietary Library at 2pm is by Dr Helen Wilson, author of The Remarkable Pinwill Sisters. The Pinwill sisters were famed for creating between them one of the most successful ecclesiastical woodcarving companies in the West Country, with work in over 180 churches across Devon and Cornwall and further afield. When first Mary and then Ethel left the company, Violet ran the business single-handedly, employing nearly 30 carvers and joiners at the height of its success. Talk: £4 for members, £8 for non-members.
Send details of your event to info@cornerstonevision. com and we will do our best to include them in Out and About. Unfortunately because of space limitations we are unable to publish details of regular meetings of groups and societies or similar organisations.
Pipsqueak
all the family starting at 10am. Step on board classic historic boats, explore second hand boats for sale and a boat jumble. Have a go at stand up paddle boarding ad watch live safety demonstrations and more.
The Ocean City Running Festival will attract thousands on May 11 Photo: One Plymouth
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Walt Disney
Local MPs and councillors have welcomed the news that Plymouth is receiving an additional £4million to extend the city’s Household Support Fund for another year.
The Household Support Fund was set up to support people across the country struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. The money is allocated by government to local authorities, who then decide how to spend it in their local communities.
In Plymouth, the funding has been used to support eligible households with vouchers for food, fuel and clothes as well as the purchase and delivery of essential household items like white goods and furniture.
The funding had been due to run out, however at the budget last year, Rachel Reeves revealed that Labour are extending the Household Support Fund with £742 million divided between local authorities across the country.
Fred Thomas, MP for Plymouth Moor View, said: “The extension of the Household Support Fund is going to provide a vital lifeline to many people in Plymouth, and it shows Labour’s commitment to supporting families through the cost-of-living crisis that we inherited from the Conservatives.
“The government is right to allow local authorities to choose how to spend this money. PCC made really good use of previous rounds of funding, and I’m looking forward to supporting them to get this money to the people who really need it.”
SUNRISEWINDOWS
Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: “As a government, we inherited a deep cost of living crisis from the Conservatives.
“This boost to the Household Support Fund is one of the steps we are taking to help people who are struggling to make ends meet.
“Alongside this, the government is focused on bringing down bills by insulating more homes and replacing expensive fossil fuels with cheaper renewables.”
Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Cooperative Development and Communities, said:
“We’re really pleased that the Government extended the Household Support Fund for another year, as there is still a clear need for further support in Plymouth and many of our residents continue to struggle with the cost of living.
“We are taking a more targeted approach this year, utilising the information available to us and our partners to ensure that we’ re helping residents who are most in need of support. While providing crisis support is important, we want to also take a longer-term approach to help prevent households from falling into financial crisis in the future.”
The new car parking space will be in the former reservoir (below) and access will be available from Devil’s Point car park (above).
Much needed extra parking spaces for Royal William Yard
A new area is being developed at Plymouth’s historic Royal William Yard, with work commencing on an extension to the parking facilities to create over 100 additional spaces.
The project represents the next stage in its regeneration and is one of several initiatives underway this year, as the Yard continues to evolve during its 200th anniversary year.
Work began at the end of March to convert the former reservoir at Devil’s Point into muchneeded additional parking for the bustling waterfront destination. The work is expected to take six months to complete.
When finished, Royal William Yard will have significantly expanded parking capacity, in addition to having several sustainable travel options on offer.
The project is an extension to the existing Nursery car park, and it has always been part of the long-term plan for Royal William Yard.
The Grade I listed site has been re-imagined by Urban Splash over the last two decades, transforming it from a derelict site into a vibrant destination.
Tom Lowry, development manager at Urban Splash, said: “By delivering more places to park, we are enabling the Yard to better serve everyone that uses and enjoys this unique destination. This project is one of several underway as we continue the regeneration of Royal William Yard – writing the next chapter in a story that’s been two centuries in the making. We want to add value and have a lasting impact on visitors, residents and businesses alike.”
Creating a valuable new space The reservoir – which has been tucked away on the Western King headland – will maintain its historic perimeter wall as the new car park is developed within. In addition to the new spaces being created, the car park will have solar-powered lighting, clear road markings, pedestrian footpaths, and a new pedestrian crossing point.
An access point to the new car park will be created through the wall of Royal William Yard’s existing Nursery car park, with a ramp connecting the two areas and steps for pedestrians. Motorists will also be able to access it via Admiralty Road, through Plymouth City Council’s Devil’s Point car park, which will remain in situ as a public car park but it will be temporarily closed for a short period to enable it to be resurfaced and improved.
For more information, visit www. royalwilliamyard.com and to learn more about Urban Splash and its projects at www. urbansplash.co.uk
The licensee of a bar in West Park has been hit with a bill of £14,000 after being found guilty of dishonestly broadcasting Sky TV.
Vahid Babolhavaeji the designated premises supervisor of the Premiere Bar and Grill in Crownhill Road televised Sky Sports football matches with the intent to avoid payment of the applicable commercial subscription charge. Sky Sports is only available to licensed premises in the UK via a commercial viewing agreement from Sky Business.
He was ordered to pay total fines and costs of £14,000 after a criminal prosecution was brought by FACT, one of the UK’s leading
intellectual property protection organisation. Kieron Sharp, FACT chairman said: “This outcome highlights FACT’s determination to protect the rights of our broadcasting partners.
“By holding individuals accountable for illegal streaming and the misuse of Sky content, FACT sends a clear message to other licensees that these violations will not be tolerated.”
Sara Stewart, head of Compliance (Commercial Anti-Piracy), Sky Business, added: “Protecting our customers’ investments is more crucial than ever. When businesses illegally broadcast Sky Sports, it
can leave our legitimate subscribers feeling short-changed. Venues that continue to televise content in this way are breaking the law and are at risk of being ordered to pay significant damages and legal costs to Sky.”
Working with FACT is a key part of Sky’s commitment to protecting pubs and clubs that invest in legitimate Sky Sports subscriptions.
Sky is committed to visiting every licensed premises reported by other publicans and/or organisations for illegally showing Sky. Any licensee affected by these issues can report suspected illegal broadcasting confidentially at www.pubpiracy.com
West Park licensee hit with £14,000 bill for screening Sky TV illegally Dedicated lifeboat volunteer steps down after more than 20 years
After over two decades of dedicated voluntary service, Plymouth RNLI crew member Richard Gibson has stepped down from his role on the lifeboat crew.
Richard joined Plymouth Lifeboat Station in 2004 at 29, following a conversation with a crew member during a work meeting. Living just a stone’s throw from the station and working nearby, he was well-placed to respond to the pager and quickly became a key part of the team.
Over the years, he served as a Helm on the Inshore Lifeboat (ILB), a Navigator on the Allweather Lifeboat (ALB), and, most recently as Senior ILB Helm.
In recognition of his long and committed service, Richard was invited to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party to mark his 20 years of volunteering. The Lord Mayor of Plymouth also presented him with coronation and long service medals, honours he says he will always treasure.
Reflecting on his time with Plymouth RNLI, Richard said: “Joining the lifeboat crew back in 2004 was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve spent time on the crew in my 20s, 30s, 40s, and into my 50s, and it’s hard to put into words what it has meant to me.
“Lifeboating has been a massive part of my life, and not just mine, but my family’s too. My wife and children have lived with the sound of the pager and the late-night shouts for years, and I’m incredibly grateful for their support.
“The commitment required from my wife, and the effect it has had on the day-to-day logistics for her and my three children, is something that is very rarely understood by anyone who has never had to try to balance family life with carrying a pager as a volunteer crew member.
“During my time with Plymouth RNLI, I’ve launched on hundreds of shouts, volunteered on 19 out of 21 Christmas Days, and played a vital role in many memorable shouts. One that stands out was the recovery of a family with a baby cut off by the tide in Wembury Bay. I helmed the Y-boat through the surf and fading light to bring them to safety.
“The conditions made it one of the most high-pressure rescues of my time on the crew. The successful outcome was down to the
team’s training, experience, and coordination, which has been a constant theme throughout my years with the station.
“Over the years, I’ve made lifelong friends, some of whom I’ve stood beside in the toughest conditions. I’ve had the privilege of being part of a crew that’s more like a family, and I even met my wife through the social side of the station. I’ve shared in the joy of successful rescues, and I’ve experienced some of the more difficult sides of the job too. It’s been emotional, exciting, humbling, and unforgettable.
“What I’ll miss the most is the people, and perhaps the sound of those twin 1,250 horsepower engines roaring to life. The sea will still be a big part of my life, just with a little less urgency.
“Following my retirement from Plymouth Lifeboat Crew, I still intend to spend as much time as possible afloat at sea, whether it is on our kayaks, our powerboat, or my in-laws’ 32-foot sailing yacht. I have thoroughly
enjoyed being part of the Plymouth Lifeboat Crew, but it is now time for me to let go and focus more on my own family and spending quality family time together without the pager.”
Nigel Gray, Lifeboat operations manager said: “Richard has been an integral part of the Plymouth station for 20 years, carrying out numerous taskings and exercises over the years. He has seen a lot of change over the years but has always been available for help and support to the crew.
“He can now look forward to a welldeserved retirement to spend time with his family without interruption from the pager. I’d like to say a huge thank you from us all at Plymouth RNLI and wish him a long and happy retirement.”
Adam Wotton, 2nd mechanic added: “Richard has been a valuable crew member to Plymouth Lifeboat Station and a great friend to me since I joined 18 years ago. It’s been a pleasure to serve with him, and he will be missed by myself and others at the station.”
Photos: Hannah Hawke
Richard Gibson
Photo: RNLI/Darren Blight
Buckingham Palace
LIONS CLUB SUPPORT FOR PLYMOUTH AIR CADETS
Plymouth Lions Club have donated £400 to the 2174 (North Plymouth) Squadron of the RAF Air Cadets.
Lions vice president elect George Poad, who formerly served in the RAF, and club secretary Ian Hill visited the cadets to make the presentation.
Lion Ian gave a talk on the Lion young leaders in service scheme and he and Lion George were given a tour of the facility, which they described as ‘very interesting.’
The Air Cadets offer many fun and exciting opportunities such as flying, gliding, adventure training and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme along with visits to RAF stations, sports and much more. They do not directly recruit for the Royal Air Force, but are an integral part of it, providing exceptional training that is recognised by the RAF. The transferable skills that are learnt will also help in many civilian jobs and in day-to-day situations.
Satellite Family Hub opens in Honicknowle
Plymouth’s first Family Hub satellite site has opened at the YMCA in Honicknowle.
Family Hubs support families from pregnancy through until children are 19-years-old, or up to 25-years-old for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
As a satellite site, YMCA Plymouth will serve as an extension to the nearby Four Woods Family Hub on Crownhill Road which is operated by Barnardo’s. This new initiative will bring essential Family Hub services closer to families in the local area, making the support on offer more accessible and convenient, reducing barriers such as distance and transportation challenges.
Services offered at the YMCA satellite site will include parenting support, early years activities and workshops, which will all be coordinated by the Four Woods Family Hub team.
Councillor Jemima Laing, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Children’s Social Care, said: “This is a really exciting development. Only last week we launched our eleventh and final dedicated Family Hub in Plymouth, and now we’re opening our first satellite location.
“The satellites are all about making the services provided by Family Hubs as inclusive and accessible as possible. They will really help us to target communities where support is most needed.
“The YMCA already provide so many valuable services to local residents of all ages, so we’re delighted to be working with them to deliver the first satellite Family Hub.”
Tom Lavis, chief executive of YMCA Plymouth, said: “Being selected as Plymouth City Council’s first Family Hub satellite site is truly one of the highlights of our recent growth strategy. It is an incredible honour and testament to the dedication of the YMCA Plymouth team, who already serve¬†over 25,000 people in our community annually.”
Other locations across the city that may be suitable for satellite Family Hubs are now being considered.
For more information about Family Hubs in Plymouth visit www. plymouth.gov.uk/family-hubs.
11 JULY
Lions Club vice president elect George Poad presents the cheque to Sergeant Amelia Holt, watched by members of 2174 (North Plymouth) Squadron RAF Air Cadets
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Luke Pollard MP calling for iconic buildings to be sold or refurbished
Luke Pollard MP is calling for recommendations for his 2025 ‘Buildings at Risk’ list to highlight Plymouth’s iconic disused buildings, challenging the owners to invest in them or sell them to someone who will.
Every year, Luke issues a list of ten iconic Plymouth buildings that have fallen into disuse and disrepair. These are buildings that with the right investment could be brought back to life.
Investment would preserve Plymouth’s history whilst giving these buildings a fresh purpose – helping to provide employment, stimulate the local economy and keep Plymouth flourishing.
“It's great exercise, I think of it as I'm getting paid to do my steady state cardio. Good for the waistline and the
Buildings previously listed on Luke’s ‘Buildings at Risk’ list have had some encouraging results. The Civic Centre appeared on Luke’s ‘Buildings at Risk’ list and is now Plymouth’s flagship regeneration project, a beacon for the city.
The Civic Centre’s basement, ground and first floors will be home to City College Plymouth’s new marine and green skills hub, delivering 60 new courses to 2,000 students. Luke is also collaborating with Plymouth City Council to turn the upper storeys into housing – making the city centre safer and more vibrant.
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The Civic Centre is an example of how Plymouth’s disused buildings can be given a new lease of life for the benefit of communities in the city.
There have been a number of other successes from the list.
Following Luke’s calls, Plymouth City Council have fixed the tidal pool at Devil’s Point and put the Merchant’s House and Pounds House on the market to find owners to restore them to their former glory.
Luke Pollard MP’s 2024 Buildings at Risk List:
1 The Palace Theatre, Union Street
2 The Royal Fleet Club, Devonport
3 The Pot Black Building/Mechanics Institute, Devonport
4 Stoke Damerel High School for Girls Devonport
5 Pounds House, Central Park
6 Great Western Hotel, Union Street
7 The Cooperage, the Barbican
8 The Phoenix Tavern, near Union Street
9 The tidal pool, Devil’s Point
10 The Merchant’s House, the Barbican
Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: “Some of Plymouth’s proudest and most historic buildings are rotting away.
“That’s why each year I shine a spotlight on these iconic buildings and challenge the owners to invest in them or sell them to someone who will. Progress has been made on several of the buildings on my previous lists, and I’m looking for new recommendations from Plymouth for my 2025 Buildings at Risk List.”
To recommend a building or for more information visit www.lukepollard.org/buildings-at-risk/
Groundbreaking exhibition opens at The Box
A major exhibition celebrating the work of a renowned British artist who has strong connections with Plymouth and the South West has just opened at The Box.
Jyll Bradley: Running and Returning continues until November 2 and is an intimate and powerful presentation that showcases three decades of Bradley’s artistic journey.
The exhibition features photography, film and sculpture and combines historic works that have shaped Bradley’s practice with pieces that are new or rarely seen.
They include a stunning new sculpture – also called Running and Returning – that plays with light; early self-portraits that show Bradley taking on different identities; vibrant geometric works on paper, a photographic series titled Flower Train which explores Cornwall’s flower trade; two films narrated by Bradley that reveal a further exploration of identity and sense of self; and models of some of the large public artworks she’s become known for.
Visitors to the exhibition will also encounter a new version of The Hop – a large eye catching sculpture which was originally commissioned for London’s Southbank Centre in 2022.
Adapted especially for Plymouth and created from Bradley’s signature materials of fluorescent Plexiglas and LED in dark blue and yellow, the work is set to project a spectrum of colours across The Box’s Tavistock Place square over the summer.
Local audiences will be especially interested in the exhibition’s personal links to the region.
Bradley was adopted as a baby and her adoptive family has roots in the South West where she spent many summers as a child connecting with her relatives.
A series of display cases in The Box’s Active Archives gallery explores this further and includes
the East Stonehouse baptism record for Bradley’s grandmother as well as information and archival material relating to her grandfather who once lived in Stoke and was a volunteer Fire Guard during the Blitz.
Victoria Pomery, chief executive at The Box said: “Jyll Bradley has been creating captivating work for more than three decades, with a pioneering approach and creativity that has resulted in an incredibly broad-ranging practice.
“Witnessing her ability to combine the highly personal with the public is a real privilege. We are thrilled to be hosting this major exhibition of her work at The Box and to have created the opportunity for audiences in Plymouth and the South West to experience it.”
Exhibition opening hours are 10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday and selected bank holidays. Entry is free and there is no need to book.
Jyll Bradley’s work on display at The Box Photos: One Plymouth
Luke Pollard MP in front of The Palace Theatre
Naval Heritage Centre opens for summer visitors
Bells, cannon, badges, models, historic records, even a periscope – all these historic naval items and many more – can be seen as the largest naval museum in South West England which has re-opened for the summer tourist season.
Devonport Naval Heritage Centre celebrates the history of the Royal Navy in Plymouth back to the days of the age of sail.
Occupying two historic buildings – the old fire station and the former superintendent’s/pay office – its rich collection is spread over several themed galleries, all looked after by a team of two dozen volunteers who have spent the winter adding to and enhancing existing displays ready to welcome 2025’s visitors.
The first of those was Plymouth Lord Mayor Councillor Tina Tuohy who was given a private tour ahead of the heritage site recent opening.
The centre is something of a hidden gem – such that the city’s Lord Mayor had never visited before – but is now very glad she did.
“It’s absolutely fascinating – I’ve always wanted to see the place and it is remarkable to get up close, touch the items and understand what Devonport means to so many,” she said.
“I’m amazed that people are not queuing up to see what’s on show. one of the reasons I wanted to come along to visit was because I was curious in the Naval Base’s story and what was on show. It is truly a must-see place in the city.”
The centre was closed for three years due to Covid, so 2025 is only the second summer season it has been open to the public post-pandemic.
The Lord Mayor was hosted by Peter Dunlop,
who leads a team of 24 dedicated volunteers running the entire place, from looking after the galleries to back-room staff who love the challenges with researching, it’s a well-oiled team dedicated to their work, and are always keen for new volunteers.
“We hope that the public who see us get a true sense about what Devonport Naval Base brings to the city and has shown over many centuries what an asset Devonport is and has been for the defence of our country,” said Peter Dunlop, who leads the team of volunteers.
They not only are on hand to help explain the Devonport story, but also care for the exhibitions, log them and conduct research where possible.
He added: “We now have this well of untapped
history to rediscover, it is so unique that Plymouth University send their students to us to help us document this unbelievable and rare resource. Every box we open is a new chapter in their fascinating story.”
The centre is open on Wednesdays from 10am until 3pm (last entry at 2.15pm), and the second Saturday of each month until the end of October.
The entrance is in Vivid Approach, Off Granby Way, Devonport, PL1 4RW
Special guided tours can be arranged outside these hours for groups and associations by contacting enquiriesdnhc@gmail.com.
Entry is free although donations are always welcome. More details about the heritage centre at www.devonportnhc.wordpress.com/
More special school places created in Plymouth
A £13 million programme of work to improve support for children and young people with special needs or disabilities (SEND) by increasing the availability of special school places in Plymouth is underway.
A new satellite provision for Mill Ford School will provide 50 special school places from September for children with SEND in Reception and years 1 and 2.
Plymouth City Council has agreed to investing £161,000 from the Department for Education’s high needs provision capital allocation fund into creating the places on the grounds of Riverside Community Primary in St Budeaux, following an executive decision signed today.
The new places for the next school year have already been allocated to children with Education,
Health and Care Plans (EHCP).
The development is part of the council’s SEND Sufficiency plan which aims to address the shortage of suitable school places for children and young people with SEND in Plymouth. The plan includes reconfiguration and refurbishment of some of the city’s special schools to increase their current capacity, as well as developing more specialist places within mainstream schools.
Through this work, a further 34 new special school places have also been created for this coming September, bringing the current total number of new places - including the Mill Ford satellite provision - to 84.
In the council’s initial plans set out last year, the intention was for Mill Ford School to have a satellite provision at Marlborough Primary Academy but the site was unable to accommodate alterations. Instead, a temporary provision was created at
Riverside Community Primary which has provided 30 places throughout this school year. With the confirmed new investment, there will now be a further 20 places.
While most children’s needs can be met in a mainstream setting, for some a specialist setting is more appropriate. To be eligible for a special school place, children must have an EHCP or be undergoing a statutory assessment of their special educational needs and have needs that cannot be met in a mainstream school.
The council and local schools have recently launched a new website outlining the Plymouth Graduated Approach to Inclusion.
This helps schools and parents and carers by setting out the support available for children and young people with SEND to ensure that their needs are meet. Find out more at https:// plymouthgati.co.uk.
Lord Mayor of Plymouth Cllr Tina Tuohy gets hands-on with the periscope exhibit
Rabbit abandoned on Dartmoor finds Easter refuge at Woodside Sanctuary
A rabbit found abandoned on Dartmoor spent Easter being cared for at a Plymouth animal sanctuary.
Bluebell was found by a dog walker on the moor and taken to Woodside Animal Welfare Sanctuary at Elfordleigh, on the edge of Plymouth.
With the charity unable to trace her owner, Bluebell is now being looked after at the sanctuary where, despite her traumatic experience, she is doing well.
The charity is urging people not to give rabbits as gifts and to consider the long-term commitment and care involved before homing a rabbit.
Woodside assistant supervisor Claire Newcombe said: “Sadly, people often do not realise the care a rabbit needs. Before anyone considers getting a rabbit, they need to do their research and consider what is involved in caring for them. Rabbits are a long-term commitment. They can live for 10 to 12 years and need specialist care.”
Bluebell, a Lop rabbit, is playful and enjoys being outdoors. Since arriving at the sanctuary, she has been neutered and will need to be rehomed with another rabbit.
“Bluebell seems to really like other rabbits,” Claire said. “She’s nervous of people but is slowly getting more confident.”
Sadly, Bluebell is one of a number of rabbits that arrive at the sanctuary having been abandoned. Last Easter, the charity took in a pair of injured Lop rabbits that were left in a cage at the entrance to the sanctuary.
Other cases include a rabbit dumped on a train and several taken in by Woodside after being left alone and abandoned in properties when their owners have moved on.
Before any rabbit is rehomed by Woodside, they are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, which is included in the adoption fee, and careful checks made to ensure a prospective home is suitable, including the hutch and rabbit run size.
Claire said rabbits need shelter, exercise, companionship, enrichment, veterinary care and the correct diet.
“A lot of people do not know we have rabbits here,” Claire said. “Rabbits are social animals and should be kept in neutered, compatible pairs. They usually always want a friend.”
“Rabbits are a big commitment and are not the easiest pets to look after.”
To find out about the rabbits and small animals searching for a home at Woodside, visit www.woodsidesanctuary.org.uk/adopt-asmall-pet/
Residents in Plymouth will decide if the city should have an elected mayor when a Referendum campaign group now called ‘Mayor for Plymouth’ which was spearheaded by Angus Forbes, former the city and in this special Chronicle feature the views of those in favour of and those against July 17 2025, although this has to be ratified by a Full Council meeting on April 28.
‘Lack of leadership has hampered city’s growth’
The ‘Mayor For Plymouth’ campaign explains why having a Mayor is best for our city in this Q&A. The campaign successfully gained 10,800 valid signatures, triggering a Referendum. We thank every single citizen who went out of their way to give Plymouth this important opportunity for a better future.
WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?
On Referendum day, the citizens of Plymouth can choose how the leader of Plymouth City Council is selected. At present, the leader can only be a councillor, who is then chosen by other councillors (indirect democracy).
The alternative is the leader can be any citizen, chosen directly by the people (direct democracy).
This is known as a Mayor who is elected by voters, although this wording might change on the ballot paper.
Having a leader who can be any citizen, creates the space for Plymouth’s best leaders from all fields to come forward to lead their city. A councillor can resign and then stand for leader. Secondly, we the people choose our leader directly. Not having these two elements of direct democracy, has held Plymouth back for 26 years.
WHY IS DIRECT DOMOCRACY AND HAVING A MAYOR, A BETTER MODEL OF GOVERNANCE?
A. You get to choose a leader who you actually want, someone who inspires you with a vision of your city. You get to choose someone who is a leader of place, not political party.
B. More talent with more real world experience. Plymouth has so many great leaders across the city: in the armed forces, manufacturing, health, business, the arts and other areas, who will be able to come forward as a candidate for leader, bypassing the narrow party political process. Our best leaders are more ambitious, they come with real world experience and they can unite us with their vision for the city.
C. Accountability. Any candidate has to say exactly what they are going to achieve for us in their four year term. If they do not deliver, then we vote them out. At present there is no such accountability.
D. Economic growth. Business people respond really well to a leader who has been chosen by tens of thousands of citizens. It gives them a credibility that investors understand.
WHY DOES PLYMOUTH NEED A MAYOR?
In a word…failure.
For the last 26 years since we became a Unitary Authority, the councillor-only model has failed and failed again. Our economy has gone nowhere (real GDP per capita was unchanged between 2001 and 2023 Source
ONS), our city centre is ugly and 78,000 citizens live in poverty (ONS census 2019). And now we have £1bn of debt. We asked leaders in Plymouth - everyone from shop owners to community builders, school teachers to senior people in the Navy, manufacturing and the arts - why are we not achieving our potential as a city and they all said: the lack of leadership derived from the over-politicised councillor system.
HOW WILL HAVING A MAYOR BENEFIT THE PEOPLE OF PLYMOUTH?
Being a leader of place not political party, Mayor’s forge the immeasurable asset of collective belief and attract private capital and private citizens to grow the economy. Simply put, a councillor can’t. A Mayor is likely to open the airport within two years, double the size of the economy in just 10 years and push average wages up towards the English average, which are £7,972 higher. In driving economic growth, council service provision improves with greater tax receipts. Greater tax receipts also allow us to pay down some of the crippling £1bn of debt that the Councillor system has accumulated. A Mayor can refurbish the train station, attract an IKEA, make Plymouth the digital and creative hub of the South West and help attract funding for a 35,000 seat Home Park stadium. A Mayor can realise the potential of our city and make all our lives better.
HOW MUCH WILL HAVING A MAYOR COST?
It will SAVE Plymouth £250k a year.
Assuming we pay the new leader £80k vs the current £50k (£80k is the average wage of a Unitary Authority Mayor) and given that the Mayor can have cabinet consisting of 2-9 councillors, if they move to four from the current nine, this saves £130k. Immediately changing to a four electoral cycle for councillors, as was the will of Plymothians in the September 2024 review, will save a further £150k per annum (Firsk report 2024). The current leader ignored this and stayed with one thirds model to retain his power. These numbers add up to saving of £250k. in 2001 the current leader ran the ‘million pound mayor’ campaign to scare people in the previous referendum, and now he has made up the £1.5m figure. Plymouth City Council has been asked to justify the £1.5m number via a Freedom of Information request and their answer was: ‘The council does not hold this information.’ Of course they don’t, because it is a fiction.
IF WE GET A MAYOR, WILL THE GOVERNMENT JUST REMOVE IT AFTER A FEW YEARS?
No. The new white paper indicates that the new government is not stopping local authorities having leaders chosen by direct democracy (Mayors), but they will ‘discontinue the individual Local Authority devolution model in its mayoral form.’ That is, stop
local authorities having Mayors in order to access devolution powers at the small Unitary Authority level. That is not what Plymouth would be doing in any way. Sir Peter Soulsby (Leicester Mayor) has not once referred to the possibility of his office being removed. IS IT TRUE THERE WILL BE NO MORE POWER AND NO MORE MONEY?
Yes, this is true. The Mayor, by simply holding the leader’s job, will have no more power within the structure of the council. And there will be no more money from Central Government. This will come via the regional Mayor’s office in the future. But right now, this is not what we need most! We need to create the space for our best leaders to come forward so we can directly choose a highcalibre leader with real-world experience, capable of doubling the size of our economy, halving VAWG and improving the lives of all. WHY ARE THE COUNCILLORS SO AGAINST THE IDEA?
In many ways this referendum is about power. Should the Councillors have it (indirect democracy), or should the people have it (direct democracy)? The proposition of having a Mayor is a threat to Councillors holding all the power and operating in their highly politicised and tribal system. If a non-political leader is chosen by the people, they could easily create a smaller cross party cabinet and rearrange those leading committees, thereby altering the remuneration and the absolute hold on power that councillors have currently. WHAT ABOUT THE LORD MAYOR?
Our Lord Mayor is a cherished ceremonial position without leadership power, and will remain.
For more information visit www. mayorforplymouth.com
Angus Forbes
Referendum is held later this year. The petition which secured the Referendum was organised by a former banker and husband of Dame Darcy Bussell. The Referendum has divided opinion in against an elected mayor are presented. The date for the Referendum has been set for
‘No to a City Mayor’- voices from across Plymouth
El Clarke, Clean Our Patch: Spend money on our streets, not another politician
Look, I’m not saying the council is perfect. But at least we know who they are, and we can vote them out if they don’t do their job. Now I hear a small group want to shove another politician on top, paying them a fat £80k salary while we’re still dealing with the same old problems? No chance.
A Directly Elected Mayor won’t fix Plymouth’s problems. They won’t be out there picking up the rubbish, sorting the potholes, or making sure services actually work. They’ll be sat in an office, making big promises while the rest of us crack on.
They say a DEM will ‘get things done’ - but how? With what money? We’re not getting more funding, and they won’t have any new powers. The referendum alone costs £410,000! That’s us taxpayers picking up the tab for another layer of politicians. If there’s spare cash, it should go into sorting out our communities, not another bloke in a suit telling us they know best.
Keith Tupman, 27 years in the Royal Marines: For every complex problem, there’s a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong
Plymouth has its problems and Plymothians quite rightly want better for themselves, their families and their neighbours but handing all the executive power to one politician won’t fix that complex dynamic. That’s exactly what this costly DEM will be: a one person ‘my way or the highway’.
Leadership by permission matters, as does accountability. When one person makes all the decisions, without proper checks and balances, bad calls get made and once applied, they can’t be undone. That can lead to mistakes that Plymothians would be coping with for four long years.
Multi-millionaire Angus Forbes tells us we need his DEM to ‘stand up’ for Plymouth. Will that indebted individual be just another low-grade politician looking after their mates? Councillors are answerable to all of us. A DEM wouldn’t be and that should worry anyone who wants real, fully considered change, not just ‘Simple Solutions’.
This isn’t politics left or right. If the system isn’t perfect, don’t throw the baby out with the bath water: hold our city’s politicians to account but don’t hand one person all the power, hoping they’ll use it wisely.
Luke Pollard MP and Fred Thomas MP: Winning for Plymouth is a team sport
Plymouth thrives when we all work together. Leadership should be about teamwork, not concentrating power in one person’s hands. That’s why we oppose the idea of a directly elected mayor for Plymouth.
We understand why people want change. After years of Tory mismanagement, Plymouth has deserved better for a long time. But the solution isn’t ripping up Plymouth’s current governance model for one with no new money and no new powers that has failed elsewhere.
Directly elected mayors - which are completely different from combined authority mayors like Andy Burnham - often create division, not unity. They sideline your community representatives, reduce accountability, and centralise decision-making in ways that don’t work for people.
By the way, this mayor with no new money and no new powers will cost you, the taxpayer, £1.5 million a year.
Plymouth doesn’t need a directly elected mayor; it needs a team of dedicated local people working together to get things done.
We won’t stand by when people try to talk Plymouth down. We are a city on the up and change is coming - but it must be the right kind of change. Let’s build a better Plymouth together, not gamble on a failed experiment that has been abandoned by towns and cities across the country.
Plymouth set to celebrate VE Day 80
Plymouth will celebrate VE Day 80 with a special day of activities on The Hoe. The event on Thursday May 8 on The Hoe will be packed with excitement, entertainment, and heartfelt remembrance. Funded by Plymouth City Council, with support from Babcock, VE Day 80 will start at 10.30am with a flag-raising ceremony and a full parade of Standards at the Belvedere, featuring the Royal Navy Guard and ships in Plymouth Sound.
The festivities will then continue throughout the day with live music on The Hoe, an evening concert, vibrant street party, stalls, and vintage vehicles, with the evening concluding with a Sunset Guard lighting the Plymouth beacon at 8.40pm.
Across the country, millions will be dancing, singing, and partying in the streets to celebrate the end of the war. Plymouth City Council is making it easier for local people to join in by suspending road closure fees for street parties between Thursday May 8 and Sunday May 11. This will hopefully encourage local people to come together with their neighbours to have their own community celebrations. The deadline to apply for a road closure is April 11.
Councillor Sally Haydon, Cabinet Member with responsibility for eents, said: “This will be a fantastic community event to celebrate VE Day 80. It’s a chance for us all to give thanks and remember those who lost their lives during the war, and to reflect on the past.
Plymouth City Council is proud to be organising a day of celebration on The Hoe. And, whilst residents and communities will need to buy their own Victoria sponges, we are happy to wave the cost of road closures, to enable communities to come together to organise their own celebrations.”
For more information about VE Day 80 in Plymouth, go to the www.visitplymouth.co.uk
Tina Scott, healthcare worker: I went to a Yes to Mayor meeting, and it shocked me
I started out with an open mind. I wanted to hear both sides, and went to a public meeting about this city mayor idea. Honestly? I was shocked.
I expected straight answers to basic questions - how will this bring more money to Plymouth? How will it actually improve services? What happens if the mayor makes bad decisions? But the people pushing it couldn’t answer. They just kept saying ‘trust us, it’ll be better.’ That’s not good enough. It’s not just throwing the baby out with the bath water, it’s throwing out the bath and kitchen sink too.
Then there’s the talk about bringing in big developments to Plymouth. We’ve got a beautiful waterfront - one of the best in the country. I don’t want to see that ruined by deals pushed through with no proper debate or scrutiny. Once we lose what makes Plymouth special, we don’t ever get it back.
A city mayor isn’t about giving us more say - it’s so bad they binned the idea in other places that tried it, like Torbay and Bristol. If the people pushing for it can’t even answer simple questions, how can we trust them?
Michael Fletcher, former Lord Mayor: Plymouth is making remarkable progress even in tough times
As someone who has proudly served as Lord Mayor and continues to keep a keen and watchful eye on city politics with interest, I know how important our city’s traditions are - not just as symbols, but as part of what makes Plymouth strong. We don’t need to throw away our institutions to see progress. Look at what we’ve achieved recently, even in difficult times. Indeed, Plymouth is now the highest performing city in the annual PWC Good Growth for Cities Index.
We’ve got a lot going for us as a city. The Civic Centre’s transformation, over 5,000 new homes planned for the city centre, Armada Way back on track, investment in youth centres, The Box gaining global recognition, and a private sector investment pipeline of a remarkable £5.5bn. Plymouth is moving forward because of the current approach that respects our past while building for the future.
I don’t like people talking down Plymouth when we’ve achieved so much. A city mayor isn’t the answer - we need to keep working with what has delivered results in the tough times, not risk chaos for the sake of change.
Fred Thomas MP and Luke Pollard MP
Tina Scott
Michael Fletcher
El Clarke
Keith Tupman
Derriford faces cuts of nearly £70 million in challenging year ahead
Mark Hackett, chief executive of University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, has warned that Derriford faces tough financial challenges in the year ahead with nearly £70 million of cuts to be made.
He said that the savings of £67 million represent around six per cent of the UHP’s £1 billion annual expenditure with the majority being reductions in pay.
He said: “Although we did deliver a large savings target last year of £56 million, we have never made a saving of this magnitude before on a recurrent, every year, basis. Much of our funding goes on pay for our 11,000 staff plus pay to bank and agency staff. Overall we will have to reduce our total spend on pay by about £34m per year.
“It will be a tough year financially as we look to get back into the black. Against the backdrop of global instability and very challenging public finances, the NHS is making some difficult spending decisions for this financial year.
“Despite NHS investment being protected by the government over and above other public services, local budgets are still stretched because of rising need for healthcare and increased costs.”
He said UHP would look as far as possible to make the pay savings through a combination of turnover and vacancies, reducing discretionary pay spend which includes things like overtime and bank pay and better managing sickness absence.
He said that in the year ahead there were some positive developments including:
• opening a new Urgent Treatment Centre on the Derriford site
• opening the new Community Diagnostic Centre in the heart of Plymouth
• implementing a new Electronic Patient Record
• starting to build the new £200million Emergency Care Building at the front of Derriford Hospital (see story opposite).
Reflecting on Derriford’s performance in the past year he said many improvements had been made.
• Derriford is in the best 25% of the country for most planned patient care, including outpatients
• UHP has gone from being one of the worst performing hospital Trusts in the country for four hour waits to being the most improved
• UHP is the 9th best hospital Trust in the country for theatre utilisation
• The average length of stay for patients who are admitted as emergencies has reduced from 8.4 to 7.1 days meaning patients go home sooner
• Between April 2024 and January 2025 Derriford achieved 81 per cent against the 28 day cancer standard - the highest performance in the peninsula and four per cent above the national target.
Plymouth dad is taking on a marathon and cycle challenge for hospice that supports his daughter
A local dad is taking on the Plymouth Half Marathon and a three-day cycling event for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).
Shane Pardew from Plymstock, whose daughter Evie receives support at CHSW’s Little Harbour hospice in St Austell, is passionate about giving back to the charity. CHSW offers care and support to his whole family including wife Amy and older daughter Skye.
Shane’s youngest daughter, eight-year-old Evie, has an extremely rare chromosome deletion as well as stage 3 kidney disease. She cannot walk, so is reliant on crawling, and is also nonverbal.
The family have been supported by the charity for four years, initially at CHSW’s Little Bridge House hospice in North Devon and now at Little Harbour in Cornwall. Both hospices are special places for the family and have provided respite as well as a physical and mental break during their most difficult times.
Shane said: “We’re at a stage now where we can really enjoy the hospice. Evie has the mobility to crawl around and do her thing and enjoys crafts. Evie loves it at Little Harbour, and she now knows where she is.”
Shane will be proudly wearing his CHSW running vest when he takes on the Plymouth Half Marathon on Sunday May 11. Hesaid: “I ran the Plymouth Half last year off my own back to see if I could do it, and I could. I was asked to run for the hospice, and I said maybe next year. Now here I am.”
Shane will also be taking to the saddle in July and participating in CHSW’s sold-out 200 mile cycling event, Ride for Precious Lives, along with 118 other riders. The three-day event sees cyclists
Shane with his family at a previous fund raising event
pedal all the way from Little Harbour in St Austell to Charlton Farm hospice in North Somerset, via Little Bridge House.
This will be Shane’s third time taking part, after being inspired by his wife Amy’s brother, who took part.
“I knew it would help me to give back, and that it would also be a personal challenge. With what
we’ve gone through with hospitals and everything else, I needed to do this. I’d also put on a bit of weight, so it was a focus point for me as well. Fundraise, get fit, give back, and do my thing.”
Shane has returned to the event for the addictive sense of camaraderie and fun, despite the challenging route. He loves the build-up to the cycle, including the fundraising.
He takes his spin bike to local supermarkets and completes static cycles as part of his fundraising.
“It’s such a feel-good weekend, I just don’t know of any other event that is so well put together, and what I get from it, the whole weekend from start to finish is amazing – we are like one big family.”
Shane is hoping to raise £1,400 to support the vital care that is provided at all three of CHSW’s hospices for over 500 families including his.
Shane added:
“We don’t know what’s around the corner and we go year by year. We’re making as many memories as we can; doing what we can to give back to the hospice has been so good for us and makes us stronger.”
To support Shane’s efforts go to www.justgiving. com/page/shanesrfpl
Government confirms funding for £200m Emergency Care Building
Derriford Hospital will benefit from a new, £200 million stateof-the-art Emergency Care Building after the Department of Health and Social Care rubber-stamped funding for the project.
Stuart Windsor, Future Hospital director, said “Since the announcement in January about support for our Emergency Care Building project, we have worked at pace to finish and submit the final business case for this much needed facility.
“We are thrilled that the government has confirmed support for the full funding required to deliver the project, which will make a huge difference to the people of Plymouth and the wider south west peninsula.
Construction has already started, and the new building will open in 2028, followed by the creation of a new children’s emergency facility.”
In a letter to local NHS leaders, Health Minister Karin Smyth confirmed funding is available for schemes in the first wave of the New Hospital Programme, and now patients in Plymouth will benefit from a new integrated Emergency Care Building, including dedicated areas for
children and frail patients.
Charlotte Taylor of the New Hospital Programme said: “This marks a significant milestone for Derriford Hospital and the community it serves. It provides the financial certainty to move ahead with confidence and we will continue working closely with the Trust to deliver a modern hospital that meets the needs of patients and staff for decades to come.”
The new Emergency Care Building will span four floors and
provide a step change in terms of clinical accommodation. The ground floor will provide space for the sickest patients to be treated and include a full range of diagnostic imaging which is twice the capacity of the current facility.
The second floor will be dedicated to Same Day Emergency Care; where same day urgent hospital treatment is needed, but ongoing care is provided in the community. There will be a short stay area,
and facilities for the most frail patients.
The building will provide four new state-of-the-art theatres for diagnosis and treatment guided by modern imaging techniques on the third floor. In addition, five new theatres will be installed on the fourth floor for emergency and planned surgery.
Demolition of existing buildings on site are nearing completion, and the principal construction partner will move onto site at the beginning of June 2025.
Shane taking part in an earlier Ride for Precious Lives
Artist’s impression of Derriford’s new Emergency Care Building
City’s super slimmers raise £75,000 for Cancer Research
Slimming World members in Plymouth have raised £75,000 for Cancer Research UK by donating the clothes they’ve slimmed out of to the charity’s shops.
The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw with Cancer Research UK is an annual event that takes place in Slimming World groups across the UK. It sees members donating good quality clothes, shoes, and accessories that no longer fit – and they’re confident they will never need again.
Slimming World groups across Plymouth, collected 2,508 bags to help support life-saving research.
Slimming World team developer Lauren Derbyshire, who runs the Ford Saturday morning group, said she’s proud of how the city’s members came together to support the charity, as well as to celebrate how far they’ve come on their own weight loss journeys.
Lauren said: “It’s always a pleasure to see the excitement in groups when The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw comes around! When you’re losing weight, it can be easy to focus on the number on the scales without realising how many non-scale victories are happening in the background, like our changing clothes sizes and body shapes.
“This event celebrates those victories as it is all about members donating their old wardrobe while raising money for an important cause. It makes me so happy to see my members’ confidence grow as they commit to donating their larger clothes knowing they will never need them again, because they’ve made healthy changes they can maintain for life!”
As well as raising funds for Cancer Research UK, the Big Slimming World Clothes Throw raises awareness of how maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of 13 different types of cancer.
Super Slimming World slimmers with just some of the 2,500 bags of clothes collected for charity
Overweight and obesity is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer in the UK - causing more than one in 20 cancer cases.
Lauren added: “Being overweight doesn’t necessarily mean that a person will develop cancer, but we know that losing weight and maintaining a healthy
weight can help prevent a number of health conditions, including some types of cancer. I’m proud to host The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw at my Slimming World group to help Cancer Research UK continue its vital work.”
Over the years, Slimming World has raised more than £25 million for Cancer Research UK through a variety of campaigns including The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw and supporting the charity’s Race for Life event series.
Last year, Slimming World members, consultants and head office staff raised £2.9m for Cancer Research UK through The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw and are aiming to make this year even bigger and better.
Lauren’s Ford Slimming World group is held at Wolseley Trust Community Centre, every Saturday at 7.30am, 9am, and 10.30am. For more information or to join Lauren’s group or any other group in Plymouth, call Lauren on 07494 754493 or visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk or call 0344 897 8000.
Young footballers spread Easter cheer
The generosity of two junior football clubs meant people receiving care in Livewell Southwest’s mental health inpatient units had a sweet surprise at Easter.
Eve Redmond, a referral coordinator at the Glenbourne Unit in Plymouth, put out an appeal online for Easter egg donations as she hoped to bring a little joy to patients who were not able to go home or see loved ones over the holiday. The response far exceeded her expectations.
Eve said: “Not all our patients got to spend Easter with their families, and sometimes a small gesture like receiving an Easter egg can make a big difference to their day.
“I had a wonderful response. We received more than 100 eggs, including an incredible donation of more than 70 from Mount Gould Under 6s and Under 11s Football Club.”
Adam Moody, coach for the two teams, shared the personal reason behind their heartfelt donation: “When I was younger, my mum spent time at Glenbourne as she lived with bipolar disorder. I was about
the same age as my eldest son is now, and not having my mum around was hard. My sons never got to meet their nanny, but being able to support others in the same place she once stayed brought a smile to my face and warmth to my heart.”
Adam explained how the teams quickly rallied around the cause. “I told the other parents why I wanted to support the appeal, and they all donated money. My partner Sue then went from supermarket to supermarket to find the best-priced eggs.”
Thanks to the overwhelming response, Eve was able to extend the Easter cheer far beyond Glenbourne, which is an acute mental health hospital for adults who are too unwell to be treated at home.
Patients at Syrena House, Greenfields, Lee Mill Hospital, Plym Bridge House, and the Edgcumbe Unit all received an Easter egg. Eve said: “All the wards and units were incredibly happy and grateful to receive the eggs. It’s heartwarming to see such kindness from people in Plymouth.”
Right: Eve Redmond with Jake and Tommy Moody, sons of Mount Gould U6s and U11s football coach, Adam Moody. Copyright Adam Moody
History of Blockhouse Park in Stoke will be in focus during May
The history of Blockhouse Park in Stoke will be in focus again in May as part Local and Community History Month.
Over the past 18 months Stoke’s Village Hub has been running a project called Blockhouse Folk: Past, Present & Future to uncover and celebrate social and natural heritage in the community - made possible by funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
So far, local residents have been exploring the area through a series of history walks, community events, a monthly Local Histories & Mysteries group, a Photographic Census project, creating new flags and banners, and by doing activities that help look after the trees and plants in Blockhouse Park.
The idea is to connect past, present and future actions of people in the area around Blockhouse Park – which includes the Stoke, Morice Town and Ford neighbourhoods.
There will be a series of events in May starting with a Local Histories & Mysteries Group meeting on May 1 between 1pm and 3pm in the Village Hub. This will be followed on May 17 when a community history display will be staged at Stoke Youth & Community Centre from 2pm to 4pm.
Local History Talks ‘Screening & Soup’ events will be taking place on May 15, 22 and 29 from 12.30pm to 1.30pm in the Village Hub. These will feature special video talks by local historian Richard Fisher - along with some freshly made soup.
Richard said: “Stoke is steeped in history and can trace its rich history from the Celtic times to the present. Over that time, many people have settled here, while others have worked or just passed through this area. The ‘Blockhouse’ has a lovely park that reminds us of the rich open farmland that was once here, not so long ago.”
Rachel Dobbs, from The Village Hub said “Richard’s local history walks have taught us so many new things about the area! We’ve been finding out about how Stoke Village grew from ancient times until now - about natural springs and rivers, stone quarries, farms and manor houses that have all since disappeared, and about why people have wanted to live here for so many centuries. I’m so glad that we’ve been able to record the information from the walks in these new videos, so that more people can enjoy these details too.”
Each week’s screening will have a different theme - and anyone who is not able to attend at The Village Hub, all of the videos are available to watch now via the Hub’s YouTube channel by going to https://tinyurl.com/TVH-videos
For more information visit the Blockhouse Folk website www. blockhousefolk. thevillagehub.org.uk
Surprise! Surprise! Mum Abi is millionth visitor at The Box
A mother received an especially warm welcome when she arrived at The Box on April 2 with her two daughters to discover she was the millionth visitor to come through the doors since the museum and gallery opened.
It was a major milestone for The Box, which has gone from strength to strength since opening during the pandemic in 2020.
Not only has it attracted visitors from Plymouth and much further afield, The Box has also won an array of awards and attracted national media attention with its world-class temporary art programme, working with partners such as the Tate, National Portrait Gallery, The Hepworth, The National Gallery and The Whitworth.
Councillor Jemima Laing, Deputy Leader of Council and Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Culture and Communications, said: “I was so thrilled to welcome Abi and her daughters Rosa and Lilah to The Box this afternoon.
“We talk about The Box being nationally known and locally loved and the fact that Abi and her family are regular visitors because there’s always things for her children to do and new things to see seems really fitting.
“To anyone who hasn’t been to The Box yet can I extend an invitation to the best free cultural attraction in the Southwest. There really is something here for everyone – here’s to the next million!”
Changing Futures for another year
Plymouth City Council project that helps to improve the lives of some of the city’s most vulnerable residents has received funding for an extra year of lifechanging work.
Changing Futures Plymouth works in partnership with local organisations to improve the outcomes for people experiencing multiple disadvantage across the city.
Since its inception in 2021, the programme has worked with victims of domestic abuse, people living with mental health challenges, families and individuals who have experienced homelessness, those involved in substance use, and people who have had contact with the criminal justice system.
By co-producing activities with people who have experience using services in the city, the programme has supported culture change, trauma-informed practice, and approaches that put people at the heart of the work to support Plymouth working together as an alliance.
Now, a combined grant of around £772,000 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the National Lottery Community Fund will allow the project to continue for a final year.
Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development, said: “I’m so proud
of Changing Futures Plymouth which is a project which has already done exactly what it says on the tin.
“By working with people experiencing hardship, we have been able to tailor services and support that deals with complex need in a way that a blanket approach could not achieve.
“It is so pleasing to see this project continue to provide the type of support needed for people to re-build their lives.”
While being delivered primarily by the council, Changing Futures relies on expert partners including from the Zone, Trevi, Ahimsa, BTheChange, Trauma Informed Plymouth Network, Improving Lives Plymouth and Shekinah.
Mum Abi arrives with her daughters Rosa and Lilah... to be welcomed (below) by
Councillor Jemima Laing Photos: One Plymouth
Local historian Richard Fisher leading a history walk in Blockhouse Park
Lifelines
As a young child growing up in a close-knit family in Cardiff, Tina Cross had her whole life to look forward to.
Sadly, that all changed when she was just eight years old after her mother and father divorced - something which was rare and frowned upon in the early 1960s.
“I didn’t realise anything was wrong with their relationship,” said Tina. “It was my eighth birthday and my dad gave me a new bike and he then told me they weren’t getting on and were selling the house and getting divorced.
“It was devastating and I really thought it was all my fault. In my head I figured that if I trashed the house they wouldn’t be able to sell it and wouldn’t be able to get divorced.”
She did trash the house, but unfortunately the plan didn’t work as the divorce went through. Tina was not allowed to stay with her mum or dad and was sent to live with her elderly grandmother and aunt and uncle.
“I tried to be as good as I could so that people would love me,” she added. “But I always felt like I was alone and nobody loved me or wanted me.”
Tina worked hard at school, passed her 11 plus and went to one of the top grammar schools in Cardiff. When her grandmother died her auntie and uncle didn’t want her so she moved in with her dad and his new wife, but her life was disrupted again when they relocated to another part of the city and she had to move to a new school - losing her best friend in the process.
Nuisance
The power of God’s love freed Tina from decades of drug addiction
my life. After about a year I was back into crime again.”
By then Tina was seriously addicted to heroin and had also become involved in drug dealing.
“I was in a seriously dark, horrible place and was so badly affected by years of injecting drugs that I couldn’t walk without sticks,” said Tina.
It was 1991 and Tina was at the infamous White Goddess Free Festival near Camelford selling drugs when she met her future husband and fellow drug addict Dave Cross, who was known as ‘busker Dave.’ He moved in with Tina - but not for long.
“He was a bit of a waster and I kicked him out - but he ended up stealing my car and my drugs,” she said.
Despite her anger, she took him back in a few months later - only to discover that in the meantime Dave had experienced a dramatic encounter with God and had became a bornagain Christian.
“He was suddenly all religious and that really annoyed me. I had always believed in God but I saw him as a man with a long grey beard with a stick ready to beat us ,” she said.
A friend then gave Dave tickets to the Cross Rhythms Festival in 1993 - but Tina didn’t realise it was a Christian music festival.
“I cried out to Jesus: ‘If you are who you say you are, you need to do what you say you can do’ as my faith was in syringes.
“From that moment I was freed from my addiction. I never injected again and apart from spending a couple of days in bed I had no withdrawal symptoms. God just changed me in that moment.”
It was a dramatic start of a new life for Tina and Dave. They married later in 1993 and Tina’s daughter Emma was one of the bridesmaids. It was a very emotional moment for Tina.
“Emma and I are now very close and I am proud to have two wonderful grandchildren,” she said.
Over the last 30 years Tina and Dave’s deep Christian faith has enabled them to work with and support drug users, the homeless, young offenders and victims of domestic violence. They also became foster carers.
Both now retired, they attend the Redeemer Church at Brickfields and are actively involved in the work of the church.
Tina said: “God has been so good - His love never fails and we now have a hope and a future.
“I felt like I was a nuisance to everybody. I didn’t get on with my step mum and really started rebelling. I couldn’t understand what was happening and I remember at the age of 12 I made a conscious decision to be bad as nobody liked me when I was good.”
She was barely a teenager when she was introduced to smoking cannabis by some older friends and within no time Tina was off the rails doing all types of drugs. Her life then deteriorated into chaos as she started injecting heroin. Her relationship with her dad and step mum went rapidly downhill and she turned to petty thieving to fund her habit. Her step mum reported to the authorities that Tina was out of parental control and she was moved to an approved school based on a farm in Wiltshire.
She spent two years in Wiltshire and at the age of 15 was sent back home to Wales to live with her dad and step mum again.
Tina attended secretarial college for a year and life seemed to be getting back on track. But within a year she was injecting heroin again and involved with heavy drugs. Her criminal activity increased and she was sent to Borstal and spent many months behind bars.
After being released she became pregnant at the age of 22 and gave birth to her daughter Emma.
“I was still a junkie, but I only smoked dope, I didn’t inject during my pregnancy,” said Tina. “I tried to be a good mum but my habit ruled
Emma was in and out of care in the following years and after Tina had served another lengthy sentence for a host of offences her daughter was taken into foster care at the age of eight.
“I didn’t see her again until she was 11 when she told me she didn’t want anything to do with me,” said Tina.
They didn’t have contact for several years after that, during which time Tina had moved to Cornwall.
During the event Tina decided to go into one of the marquees filled with hundreds of festival goers where a preacher was giving a talk about Godly ‘blood covenants’.
“I suddenly felt that everybody could see what was going on in my life. I felt dirty and ashamed and then I heard an audible voice say ‘I love you, I love you just as you are.’
“I just started to sob, I was sobbing and sobbing and was then taken to another meeting where healing was taking place and as people prayed for me I fell on the floor in bits.
God has been so good to us.”
Tina recently shared her story on Cross Rhythms. Click on the QR code for a link
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Pop-up contemporary gallery at Royal William Yard in June
A contemporary pop-up gallery showcasing the work of local artists with a deep passion for the coastline and oceans is taking place at the Royal William Yard in June. Organised by two local artists John Dixon and Erica Ankers, the pop-up gallery will be staged in the ground floor of the Melville Building from June 6 to June 22.
The work of John and Erica will be featured along with at least six other local artists with a connection to the coast.
The event will feature a range of artistic expressions both 2D and 3D alongside some exciting event days, including celebration of UN World Ocean Days on June 8.
John’s work is created from beach found marine litter, using mathematical and geometric patterns, while Erica produces semi abstract atmospheric paintings drawing inspiration from the light, colour and texture of the land and seascape.
For details visit their instagram page @coast.artgallery
Artist John Dixon with one of his works created from beach found marine litter
Artist Erica Ankers at work on one of her semi abstract atmospheric paintings
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Surprise party for ‘inspirational’ centenarian
A Plymouth centenarian has put her long life down to growing up on a Devon farm and the routine which it instilled.
Dorothy ‘Dolly’ Moore was given a surprise party by the team at the Short Term Care Centre in Mount Gould organised to celebrate her 100th birthday. They also asked colleagues from Livewell Southwest to send cards, and she received a total of 117 to open!
When Dorothy was born on the family farm in Coryton,
near Lifton in 1925, her older sister said she looked like a dolly and the name stuck.
She said the routine of ‘farming life’ instilled many good habits in her for a successful life. She was home schooled and, as a teenager helped her father, mother and sister with the milk round.
In her spare time, she loved going to the village dances and continued to enjoy dancing well into her nineties.
After World War Two, Dolly worked as a nanny with several families in Devon and London. She then became a school cook up until her retirement.
She then had time for her many hobbies which included woodworking, sewing, cooking, gardening, dancing and art. She was also a volunteer at the National Trust property Saltram House for many years.
She is fiercely independent and loves her own home and garden. She has continued to cook for herself. She is looking forward to pottering around in the garden in the sunshine after receiving support on her strength and mobility from the team at the Short Term Care Centre.
Manager Karen Turvey said: “Dolly is an absolute inspiration. 100 years of wisdom. We are so grateful for the opportunity to share such a special day with her. Thank you to everyone who helped support the birthday party. It really meant a lot.”
The Short Term Care Centre, based at the William and Patricia Venton Centre, is a place where people can go for residential assessment from Livewell Southwest’s Community Crisis Response Team. This is so they don’t have to go into hospital.
It is also for those who are medically fit for discharge from hospital but need a short period of rehabilitation before returning home. It is provided in partnership with Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Age UK and the NHS.
Roofing
Stairlifts
Dorothy ‘Dolly’ pictured as a girl on the farm
Dolly - an absolute inspiration
Photo: Livewell Southwest
Police tackle anti-social behaviour in city park
Devon & Cornwall Police are stepping up their patrols and cracking down on alcohol-fuelled antisocial behaviour at a city park in response to concerns shared by local people in Plymouth.
As part of the police’s commitment to respond to issues across communities, officers visited over 300 homes in the Stonehouse area to gather information about crime to support their plans to target ASB and drug use.
Police Inspector Greg Bridgett, who supported the visits to local residents, said: “One of the issues echoed across the community was around how people had started to feel uncomfortable visiting Patna Park. They shared experiences of seeing people drinking alcohol, which led to ASB. This included the use of offensive language, urinating in public, general disorder and littering smashed glass bottles on the pavement.
“It was clear that this behaviour was having an impact on people, with some residents avoiding the area. No one should feel like they cannot enjoy the public spaces they live nearby, and this behaviour will not be tolerated. Our officers will be taking a targeted approach to tackle it.”
Police officers will be carrying out additional patrols across the park, targeting different days and times. Officers will also be robust in their enforcement of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which gives them the power to request individuals to stop drinking alcohol as well as the power to remove alcohol. Failure to comply could lead to arrest.
“We’re also encouraging people to call 999 if they see crime or ASB happening. This is an effective way for us to gather evidence and identify offenders responsible for this behaviour.”
Speaking on the impact of alcohol use in a public space, Insp Bridgett continued: “We know that alcohol use can lead to antisocial behaviour which can intimidate or scare other people, especially in a space where children play and people walk their dogs.
“The PSPO covers the area of the park, which means people are not allowed to drink alcohol there. This allows us to remove alcohol from people before a situation escalates.
“To be clear, officers will be focusing on individuals who are causing ASB as a result of drinking alcohol.
“The park is a space for everyone to enjoy and we will be targeting the few who choose to disrupt this peace.”
Insp Bridgett commented on the importance of listening to local people about issues that are impacting how safe they feel: “People’s voices are key to community policing. If we’re not listening to what matters to our communities, then the impact of what we’re doing isn’t going to be felt. The door-knocks were a vital piece of work to make sure we get it right for local people, so that they feel safe in the area they live.”
Individuals found to be causing a disturbance will be directed out of the PSPO zone. Failure to comply with a request to surrender the alcohol can lead to arrest.
Anti-social behaviour can be reported via www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/ro/report/in a non-emergency. If crime or ASB is taking place, call 999.
Information can also be passed anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111, or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org/
Iconic St Luke’s Men’s Day Out fund raiser is another sell-out success
An incredible 2,500 men took to the streets of Plymouth on March 22, striding out to honour their much-missed loved ones and show their support for the independent charity that provides specialist end of life care for local families.
Sunny skies made an unexpected appearance as the biggest gathering yet of big-hearted chaps of all ages turned out for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth’s Men’s Day Out, setting off from Plymouth Albion rugby ground at Devonport to walk 12km along the waterfront and through the city – a reversal of the route to ring the changes for regular participants.
The iconic sold-out event – the biggest men’s charity walk of its kind in the South West and beyond – has gained huge momentum over the years. Since it was first held in 2014, with just 574 walkers, it has raised more than £1 million through sponsorship and donations to fund the clinical, practical and emotional support St Luke’s provides for people in their last months, weeks and days of life and their families.
United by a common goal, the men enjoyed a unique camaraderie as they walked, sharing lighthearted banter as well as digging deeper to reveal moving stories of their own experiences of loss and grief and how St Luke’s has helped them and their loved ones.
Most sported distinctive official navy blue event T-shirts, but as usual a host of eye-catching fancy-dress outfits added a touch of drama to the day, including a topical Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, knights of old England, Roman gladiators, cops and robbers, seagulls and chips, burger pickles, clowns and Dunkin Donuts.
Georgina Dyke, St Luke’s events manager, was thrilled by the turnout, the atmosphere and the kind weather. She said: “It was unbelievably heart-
warming to see so many men come together to support the compassionate care St Luke’s provides in the local community. Having the sun shine on us was an added bonus on what was an incredibly joyful, emotional and uplifting day.
“A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and raised funds for us this year, and to all the people whose generous support makes Men’s Day Out possible – to our main sponsors JEM Scaffolding Ltd, hosts and raffle sponsors Plymouth
Albion RFC, Salcombe Brewery, Ace Double Glazing and Sir Fix a Lock Ltd, and the army of support teams and volunteers who give their time to make sure the event runs smoothly.
“Thank you also to the Samaritans and Andy’s Mans Club who were on hand to offer mental health support.
“We never cease to be amazed and overwhelmed by the generosity of our wonderful community. St Luke’s wouldn’t be here without you.”
The art of colour at Theatre Royal Plymouth
The artists of Plymouth Colour Collective return to Theatre Royal Plymouth (TRP) for their 2025 Summer Exhibition – and this year, they’re also showcasing the work of guest artists from across Devon and Cornwall.
The Collective – Brian Pollard (paintings) Arth Lawr (paintings and woodcut), Lou C Fused Glass (glass art), Laura Edmunds of Serendipity Sea Crafts (beach clean art), and Henry Sells (paintings) – all work very differently but their pieces have one thing in common: colour.
For this year’s exhibition, which runs from June 24 to July 19, they’ve invited six artists to join them: painters Amy Teague and Abi Douglas, both from Plymouth, paper cut collage artist Clover Robin from Teignmouth, textiles artist Gill Sargeant from Okehampton, water colourist Mary Boreham from Kingsbridge and painter Paul Nicholls from Mithian in Cornwall.
Brian, one of the UK’s leading naive artists and co-founder of Plymouth Colour Collective, explained: “As a group, the Plymouth Colour Collective has always planned to expand in order to include more of the wonderful artists who live and work in the South West.
“We are fortunate that TRP
provides the space for us to invite a number of guest artists to exhibit alongside our artwork and produce a colourful, diverse, and hopefully interesting exhibition for people to come and enjoy.”
Visitors can expect to see around 50 pieces of new art that the artists have been working on for the event. The exhibition takes place in the gallery space on the first floor at the theatre and follows the collective’s hugely successful exhibition there last summer
For details visit www.instagram. com/plymouthcolourcollective
Work by Brian Pollard (right) Laura Edmunds (below) and Henry Sells
A colourful and creative collection of outfits for Men’s Day Out Photo: Paul Slater
The Plymouth Chronicle is excited to announce a collaboration with Argyle Life to provide regular Plymouth Argyle content from the perspective of the fans. We’ll be publishing regular pieces from Argyle Life contributors in print and via our website at www.plymouthchronicle.co.uk. Our latest article, written before the Argyle Women’s game against Exeter in the Devon FA Women’s Challenge Cup Final at Newton Abbot is from lifelong Argyle fan and one of the founders of Argyle Life, Aaron Hocking
Women’s football : a Plymouth legacy?
If you’d have told me in 2017, when the Lionesses were last in a semi-final, that I’d be heading off down the pub with matesin-tow to watch Women’s football I’d have laughed. Not a chance.
Connotations of ‘women don’t play football’ or ‘I’m not watching that rubbish’ most probably rang around my head. Obviously, all nonsense.
Five years later, in 2022, we arrived to find that the pub in question point blank refused to turn on the TV which left us fuming – what a change in emotions since the last European Championships.
We all huddled around mobile screens with varying delays, as Alessia Russio lit up the European stage with an outrageous nutmeg in-between the legs of Hedvig Lindahl in the Sweden goal, as Millie Bright did her best Sonny Bradley impression and as Mary Earps pulled off yet another impressive string of saves.
Only three weeks earlier I was in Manchester along with roughly 68,000 others to watch a rather dry affair as Beth Mead chipped the goalkeeper to hand England an opening 1-0 win over Austria – now I get this isn’t a piece on me and my new found love of the game.
However, that night at Old Trafford felt different to anything previous.
We were surrounded by similar figures I’d become accustomed to at a men’s game. The baldheaded, England-tattoo clad men, the young lads awash with Stone Island clobber, the older couple who had huddled together with matching scarves but also thousands of young kids vying for their opportunity to watch those they look up to. Bucket hats and retro shirts galore. St George’s Flags aplenty.
Despite all the usual suspects, the women’s game can quite often be a much more relaxed affair, but the atmosphere that night was rousing. Equal to that of a European night for the Red Devils. It gained a real sense that this game and tournament was about to live-long in the minds of today’s youth and inspire a generation.
So where am I going with this?
Ian Wright’s recent outburst on the BBC was seen by millions both live and on social media; his message was clear. Let. Them. Play.
The women’s game has stalled in progress mainly due to the FA’s ban in 1921 that lasted 100 years – partly due to their belief their game was outgrowing the men’s post-war – and until girls are able to play at all levels the game will continue to be below where it should.
Recent reports from the FA concluded that only 63% of schools offer girls football in PE lessons and whilst only 40% of schools offer girls extracurricular football. You could argue it’s encouraging compared to when I was at school, but it’s still depressing.
It’s at this level that attitudes really begin to change; my nephews running home from school to catch games on TV and talking about it amongst friends is fascinating to me the most.
The transformation is already in full flow; 68,000 at Old Trafford, 90,000 at a sell-out Wembley final, 11.3 million tuning in to the semi-final against Sweden and the government insisting it will invest further into the women’s game – all positives on the surface.
But the real legacy won’t necessarily be if our Lionesses reach another final; it will be if grassroots clubs sprout women’s sides, if girls are offered more football on the school curriculum and if deep-routed stigmas that belong in the past stay there. With Argyle’s Women’s side now fully under the wing of the football club, they’re starting to get the much needed support of the club and partnerships like the 2019 deal with the University of Marjon aids both parties to provide greater opportunities.
Opportunities
As for said opportunities, Argyle invited the women’s side to open the newly refurbished grandstand in front of around 800 hardy souls who had braved the awful weather, in a test event against Watford. The club themselves tried to drum up endless support for the game for which TV cameras were deployed and Simon and Jane Hallett flew over.
Argyle, on an 11 game unbeaten run were pipped on the day to a 5-4 defeat. Goals aplenty, talent all over the pitch.
We’ve since had a game that saw 846 in attendance, again at Home Park, as we drew 2-2 with Portsmouth. But barring these two anomalies, attendances are
USEFUL NUMBERS
often very low, with Manadon not being the best suited to the visiting match-day experience but here’s hoping the recent successes of the Lionesses not only boost the attendances and following of Argyle Women, but also encourage the next Beth Ireland, Kayleigh Lane or Sophie Perrin through the academy ranks.
Mari Ward, Mia Endacott, Taya Pomfret, Rosie Train and Ruby Murphy among others have been called up to represent England in a variety of roles and age groups, further testament to the work being done at the club; alongside being named as an FA Emerging Talent Centre for the next three years.
We’ve seen Poppy Soper and Panagiota Papaioannou feature on the international stage for Wales and Greece respectively in recent seasons. Poppy earned herself a move to Women’s Super League champions Chelsea. All this just in the last few years.
The talent is there, it’s just waiting to be seen.
Argyle’s women’s team may not have progressed as much as we’d hoped since that balmy day in 2022, however we can already see the tide is turning and long may it continue. The final is not the end of the journey, but the start of one.
The recent outpouring of support for the Project 35 campaign shows Plymouth, and our fanbase, is far less singleminded than most cities and the club appear keen to harness that community spirit, so here’s hoping we can carry that support through to the women’s team.
As much as Argyle regularly outshine Exeter in the men’s department, our county rivals have the edge on us in the women’s game. At the time of print, Argyle Women play in the Devon Challenge Cup Final tomorrow (April 2) vs ‘them up the road’. The Grecians have been better than us for a good few years now, and often tend to steal our best talent.
The more supporters turn up to watch, the more the club will be persuaded that the women’s side of the game is worthy of its own investment and promotion.
Long story short; get yourself to a game, you might surprise yourself.
Photo courtesy PAFC
Chronicle distributor
Dan comes to the rescue of 99-year-old Charlie Trevethan Advertise to over
Ninety-nine-year-old Charlie Trevethan always looks forward to the Plymouth Chronicle being delivered to his home in Southway - but he had a special reason to appreciate the latest delivery.
Charlie, who will be 100 later this year, lives alone at his home in Southway and earlier this month he took a tumble in his conservatory and was unable to get back on his feet.
He had been helpless on the floor for the best part of an hour when the local Chronicle distributor Dan Jacob came to deliver the paper - and saw Charlie’s plight.
Dan, who trained as a physiotherapist in his native India, was able to safely help Charlie back on his feet and ensured that he could make it safely back to his lounge.
Dan, who has been delivering the Chronicle in Southway since August last year, then carried on with the rest of his deliveries - but the story didn’t end there.
Charlie’s friend John Eales contacted the Chronicle to say that
Charlie was very grateful for Dan’s help but felt that he didn’t express his gratitude as strongly as he would have liked at the time.
Charlie said that he would love to meet Dan again to say a proper thank you.
So, it was a pleasure for all concerned to arrange for Dan to visit Charlie again and, of course, the Chronicle reporter and photographer were there to record the occasion.
Charlie said: “I love reading the Chronicle because it’s full of positive local news and look forward to it coming through my letterbox each month. When I took the tumble I was unable to move and was delighted when I saw Dan walking up my path to deliver the paper.
“I am so grateful for his help and am delighted to have met him again to thank him for his help.”
Dan, who is working towards being registered as a physiotherapist in Plymouth, said: “I’m so pleased that I was there just when Charlie needed some help. I just did what anybody would have done in the circumstances.”
is one of around 80 distributors of all ages who work hard each month to deliver the Chronicle to over 90,000 homes across the city.
It’s not the first time Charlie has made the news. Lifelong Argyle supporter Charlie was just six years old when he started watching the Pilgrims and is possibly the last surviving supporter to see the
Jack Leslie play at Home Park in 1931.
When the Jack Leslie statue was unveiled in October 2022 Charlie was there as one of the guests of honour and was introduced to Jack’s granddaughters and the then Argyle manager Steven Schumacher.
Charlie said: “It was as a very special day and one I will never forget.”
22,500
homes in Derriford and North edition
The Derriford and North Chronicle is delivered door to door every month to homes in Ernesettle, West Park, Honicknowle, Crownhill, Manadon, Whitleigh, Southway, Derriford, Estover, Mainstone and Leigham.
The June edition of the Plymouth Chronicle in Derriford and North Plymouth will be published on May 30 with a copy deadline of May 23. The Derriford and North edition is one of four hyper local editions delivered to a total of more than 90,000 homes throughout the city. We welcome submissions but cannot guarantee publication. We accept press releases in the form of text documents and images in JPG or TIFF format (high resolution please).
Across: 1 Sunset, 6 Oslo, 8 Saved, 9 Paella, 10 Debt, 11 Rural, 12 Aden, 13 Yelp, 14 Crimea, 16 Due, 17 Asp, 19 Balsam, 20 Lull, 23 Ante, 24 Amiss, 26 Eton, 27 Pigged, 28 Kenya, 29 Levy, 30 Remind. Down: 2 Unaided, 3 Silence, 4 Tsar, 5 Overseas, 6 Oddly, 7 Libel, 15 Italians, 17 Amalgam, 18 Pattern, 21 Untie, 22 Lanky, 25 Spar.
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Charlie Trevethan pictured with Chronicle distributor Dan Jacob